A Strange World, Chapter 1
#5 of A Strange World Series
This series will eventually have adult themes in it. If you don't mind that then please continue.
Chapter 1: And so it begins.
"Launch squence commencing." A voice said through the intercom. Sweat began to drip down my forehead as the startup engines began to roar to life. Adrenaline pumped through my veins. "Hawk, are you ready?" a voice said. "As ready as I can be." I said nervously. I couldn't believe all of this was happening.
~The previous month~
A news announcer came on the television. "Good evening nation. Today is September 20th, 2075." He said. "Tonight's top story, the space debris that fell to earth last week was analyzed by NASA and the pentagon. They have concluded that it is indeed a message from outer space, the first ever in human history. Top linguists from all over the world have been working to decipher the message. The pentagon has reported that if the message is one of ill intent they will quote 'Take necessary actions to help preserve mankind' end of quote. We will have more on this story as it develops." He finished as I turned off the TV.
My name is Johanthan Hawk, I am a 23 year old scientific researcher. I specialize in biological ecosystems and astrophysics. I have short brown hair, blue eyes and weigh 160lbs. I work at NASA. I have been working with other scientists to help find out the origin of the message rocket. I live alone in a small 2 bedroom apartment near the research facility. The engineers have been working 24 hours non-stop to repurpose one of our recently built rockets in order to travel to the planet in question.
Many of earth's best scientists and military researchers have been creating new equipment to work in the shuttle. We have no clue what the other planet will hold. Over the past week we have deciphered some of the important information from the satelite. These are things like the location of the planet, some of the characteristics of the planet's composition, and the orbit of the planet. We have encoded much of our planet's history, cultural, and scientific accoplishments into a data catalog for the other planet, only if they are a peaceful society.
I have been selected to venture on this mission. I will be earth's first intergalactic ambassador. The Scientific Research Administration had been formed in order to set up everything for this mission. They have made a kevlar presurized space suit for me to wear. I have also been injected with large amounts of strength enhancing shots. I have been trying to get ready to leave on the mission. It has been labeled as a suicide mission. I laughed and told them wasn't Apollo 11 the same way. The agreed, but also said the alien life might not be as peaceful as we believe.
The mission plan is as follows. I will board the shuttle, be launched into space. The ships corrective system will keep it on the intended trajectory. We calculate I will hit the planet within two years. From there I will find out the nature of the aliens and if all is ok I will spend One year on the planet learning everything about them I can.
~Present Time~
The rockets roared as my body was sucked into the large black chair of the pilot's chair. I watched the sky blurr before me as I rushed past the atmosphere. Within 30 seconds I was in the bleakness of space. I thanked god that the shuttle didn't kill me on lift off. I was able to take off the restraints inorder to move about the ship. I turned on the magnetic boots I wore to give me the ability to move freely about the ship. I walked down the hallway to find the brown box attached to the table. I opened it up and began to open the small package. It was a super calorie bar developed by the SRA. It held 20,000 calories, the expected amount of calories I will burn on my next step.
I continued down the hallway to the small room that held the cryogenic chamber. It was a recent technological development. It used the principle that if the body temperature is lowered enough to slow down the metabolic rate to a near halt. It also held a saphistocated life support system that would monitor heart rate, respiration, body temp, metabolic rate, illness, and other bodily functions. I climbed inside and hooked up the many sensors to my body. A monitor was infront of my eyes. A needle injected a solution into my body that caused me to be in a medically induced coma. The monitors would keep me alive. My eyes started to drift closed as the temperature decreased. Soon all I could see was darkness.
About a minute passed when I had regained consciousness. I looked at the system's clock. Two earth years had passed. I unhooked my body from the machines. I tried to look around but everything was white and blurry. I remembered that the scientist had this problem with the test subjects. They said that this was only a temporary side effect of Hybernation sickness. I moved my way around the ship slowly regaining my vision. I looked in the mirror, My hair was long and I had a scraggly beard. I cut my hair and shaved the beard. After I finished cleaning up I raided the reridgerator for some food. I had my favorite meal ready. Roast beef with potatoes and carrots and a coke. As I was enjoying my meal, an alarm went off. "You will be reaching your destination within three minutes." A voice said. I finished my food as a female voice came on the intercom. " Johnathan Hawk, are you alive?" the voice said. "Yes I am quite well." I replied. "Oh thank god." the voice said. "What is your current status?" the voice continued. "I am about to make re-entry to the unkown planet." I said strapping back in to my space suit and chair. " Good we will call again in twenty-four hours, are you clear?" she said. "Roger that." I said.
The ship picked up speed as it started to crash towards the planet. Sirens began to go off. I began to turn on the drag rockets. The ship began to slow as it started to hit city buildings. I was being thrown around in my seat until the ship finally skided to a stop.
I grabbed the lazer rifle given to me. I opened the hatch door and stepped outside.